LITERAC Y VOL UNTEERS - OF CHARLOTTESVILLE/ALBEMARLE
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Spring 2021
L i t erac y V o lunteer s
of Charlottesville/Albemarle
Program Partnership Readies
Students for Nursing Careers
T he challenges of the pandemic demonstrated to the
world the immense value of medical staff and the
severe shortage of qualified nurses. LVCA is preparing our
returning to a career as a nurse.
She enrolled in the CNA program
prior to the start of the pandemic
students to pursue health care careers and gain employment and was able to finish and gain
in such high-demand fields. certification in January 2021.
LVCA works with Thomas Jefferson Adult and Career “My teachers, Ms. Melissa, Ms.
Education at Piedmont Virginia Community College Chi, and Ms. Amanda are the best,”
(TJACE@PVCC) to ensure the English Language Learners said Havva. “They helped me a lot.
enrolled in their courses have the support they need to They were so clear and taught me,
complete their health care training. We have helped 19 step by step, patiently.”
students pursue a medical career certification. Nine of those Havva hopes to join other LVCA
obtained certification as a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). students Bushiri and Dareen in
“TJACE’s partnership with LVCA has been very gaining a job at UVA Medical Center.
beneficial to our CNA for English Language Learners “A career as a CNA is a wonderful
program,” said Debbie Tuler, ESOL Specialist at TJACE@ choice for those who want to help
PVCC. “While all students in the program receive people make a difference in their daily
integrated language, foundational, and soft skills instruction lives,” said Virginia. “This profession
throughout the CNA training, some students need extra offers job stability, location flexibility,
one-on-one support. LVCA’s tutors have enabled these often provides employee benefits
students to successfully complete the program, pass the such as health insurance, Havva completed the Certified
state board exam, and secure employment.” as well as opportunities Nurse Aide (CNA) program in 2021.
Oftentimes, we are able to match students with an for advancement. Most of
instructor who has a medical background. Tutors like all, CNA careers can offer great personal satisfaction while
Virginia P. Michel (RN, MSN, ANP) draw on their own fulfilling a valuable service to others.”
career training to help students complete the program.
Virginia felt like she found her calling as a tutor when she
was able to use her background to help these students.
Now, with each new semester, she waits to be matched with
a student who needs the one-on-one support to complete
their certification.
“When I started nursing school in the 1970s one of the
first things we learned was, ‘If you care, you are halfway
there’. This turned out to be true, and is something I have
never forgotten,” said Virginia.
Havva, one of our students who is a refugee from
Afghanistan, worked as a nurse before immigrating to
the United States in 2016. For students like her, the CNA Bushiri and Dareen also completed the CNA program and have obtained
program helps her get one step closer to her dream of employment in the NICU at UVA Medical Center.
w w w.literac yforall.org
In their own words
“I Will Never Accept Failure”
by Dareen Aloudeh, Syria
An LVCA student since 2015, Dareen worked hard to
improve her English, earn her GED, and start a career in
the medical field. Here, she recounts how her challenges
shaped the person she has become.
N ot many people experience getting forced to leave
their home country. It was never my decision,
however, it was a step that I had to do.
When the war started in Syria, my family and I
assumed it would end. We thought it’s only a few small
events and that everything will be fine soon. Months
later everything started to fall apart. It started with a few
teenagers asking for freedom, to a point where it was
impossible to leave my house to find medicine for my little
disabled daughter. Leaving my home country wasn’t only
leaving my house, but it was losing everything I had for
almost 30 years: my family, friends, and life.
I packed everything in a small bag that only weighed
20 kg (44 pounds). I entered Egypt, with the mind that I
will pack my stuff again to go back to Syria. Three years
passed, but Syria was getting worse every day, and the idea
of going back started to be impossible. I tried to make
Egypt my second home, but medical help for my little
daughter was unavailable. I had to get the bags again, but Dareen , her husband Ahmad, and their four children immigrated
this time not to go back, but to go to a different country. to the United States in 2015.
Moving from Syria to Egypt wasn’t that big a change. to never give up. I was able to earn my GED and CNA
It was the same language but different dialogue, but the during the pandemic of 2020. I got a job at UVA hospital on
people and cultures were the same. Coming to the USA the same floor where I made my decision to learn English.
was a whole different world. I didn’t know the ABCs. I was
Walking in the halls there nowadays reminds me of the
lost in this big country and culture. However, I know I am
moment when I decided to learn English for the first time.
a person that will always want to do more. I didn’t stop
All the challenges I faced shaped the person I am today.
here because I didn’t speak the language. I wanted to learn
Getting out of my home country, and getting into a country
and help my family. I didn’t want an interpreter every time
I didn’t know anything about. There were many ups and
I went to the hospital, or for any meetings in schools for
downs in my life, but the most important thing I learned
my kids. I wanted to communicate with people face to face
is to never accept failure and to always take action for any
without anything in between. I didn’t want to see myself as
chances you get.
less or different.
When I stayed in the hospital with my daughter during Dareen is now focused on obtaining U.S. Citizenship,
her first surgery, people were talking around me. All I with the support of her long-time LVCA tutor. She and
wanted was to know what they were chatting about. At that her husband are also taking LVCA citizenship classes
moment I decided I wanted to learn English. I wanted to together, and they hope to have their naturalization
earn a GED. I wanted to show everyone that they can do interviews this spring.
everything they want and nothing can stop them. I learned
Technology Drives Citizenship
Program Growth During Shutdown
D espite all of the instructional
challenges the pandemic caused,
our Citizenship program is flourishing.
taking advantage of these additional
resources.
We are excited that we’ve been
Technology and virtual instruction are able to provide more opportunities for
allowing us to reach students in many citizenship instruction and additional
different ways. resources to our students as a result of
We discovered early on in the the move to online learning. And we’re
pandemic that offering our Citizenship thrilled that, despite the challenges
classes on Zoom allowed more of the pandemic, so many people are
students to participate. As word spread continuing to work towards their goal
about our program, class sizes grew. of becoming citizens.
We now offer six class sessions every
five weeks. Right: Maria became a citizen in December.
Below: Citizenship class enrollment has steadily
By overhauling the citizenship
increased each month thanks in large part to
section of our website, we now provide students refer friends and family.
learning resources for students to
access directly and more online
support for tutors as they design
citizenship-focused, one-on-one
instruction for their students.
Our Citizenship Coordinator,
Catherine McCall, also began
creating instructional videos on
our YouTube channel, which are
shared with students each week. Our
YouTube “view counts” and anecdotal
reports confirm that students are
Welcoming New Students and
Tutors at a Limited Capacity
At the start of the pandemic, we sadly stopped enrolling new students and
training new tutors. Our program shifted to helping those currently in our
program stay connected in the new virtual landscape. We offered countless hours
of workshops, tech support, and Zoom check-ins with tutors and students to
provide support wherever we could.
We launched virtual tutoring training last fall and we have trained sixty-
six new volunteer tutors as of mid-March. Now we have begun accepting new
students again, although at a limited capacity. We anticipate enrolling eight to ten
new students each month, and as tutor training sessions continue to grow and
COVID-19 restrictions are loosened, we hope to increase that number.
Justin points to his home country, The
Democratic Republic of the Congo, during his While we are not prepared to say when we will fully resume normal
recent new student intake. operations, we are excited to start welcoming new faces into our program.
Connections through Conversation
C onversation groups have always
been an integral component of
our program. They allow students
from all backgrounds to practice their
conversation skills while learning the
nuances of the English language.
After a brief pandemic-hiatus, our
classes resumed online last summer.
Small-group classes, even if done
virtually, bring our students together
as they all work towards the common
goal of improving their English skills.
We found that, just like the rest of Pre-pandemic, Melinda’s class met in our large classroom at the Jefferson School.
the world, our students felt the effects
of the shutdown the pandemic forced “I asked today if they had nuance in the poem that my student
upon us all. Social isolation was hard questions about the United States had already caught when she watched
on everyone, but especially so for those and they did. [One student] wanted it the day it was delivered. Beautiful.
who are new to our country. to know why there were so many That will rank up there with one of our
“Already living in a foreign different kinds of people in one best discussions.”
country, some have become depressed country. Great question. Explaining —Annette, Thursday Conversation Class Instructor
due to isolation,” said Sara Gondwe, it to someone with limited English
a longtime class leader. “Mothers
talk about being with their children
was a challenge, but I think they got
it. I said their countries were old Become a
all day, not feeling confident to help
with homework and keep them busy.
countries where families had been for
generations but we were a new country Volunteer Tutor
Students have shared with me that so everyone came for opportunity. To Tutors help adult students
LVCA classes have become so much which they said, ‘Ah...Freedom.’ Lovely improve their reading, writing,
more meaningful to them as it is their moment.” and English speaking skills.
only connection with others.” —Melinda, Friday Conversation Class Instructor Upcoming training sessions will
Our volunteers offer six drop-in “Students were asked to name one be held on Zoom:
opportunities every week for students thing they liked about Charlottesville. Tuesday Evenings
to join in conversation with one One man talked about the various April 20, 27, & May 4
another. Each class is a little different. cities he had lived in in other 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Discussion topics range from current countries, and how this was the best - or -
events, to artwork, to sharing personal place to raise a family. Several moms Thursday Mornings
stories about each student’s culture and talked about schools and educational May 20, 27, & June 3
customs. opportunities for their children. One 10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
“The students always impress me young woman said, ‘Charlottesville is Volunteers should be confident
with their desire to have any kind of helping me be the best person I can be.’ with technology and prepared to
interaction with English,” said Nicolas What wonderful future citizens!” make a one-year commitment.
Finck, a volunteer class leader. “Some —Nancy, Thursday Citizenship Class Instructor Visit our website for more details
like to talk, some only listen, but Referring to a lesson plan and registration information.
when asked, they all say they feel that
exposure to the language in a friendly
discussing Amanda Gorman’s www.literacyforall.org/tutors
inauguration poem: “Just wanted to
atmosphere is good.” drop a line to thank you for the link Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle
233 4th Street NW, Suite L
Here are a few anecdotes from and suggestion of using the youth Charlottesville, VA 22903
recent classes we thought you would poet laureate’s speech during the 434-977-3838
enjoy: inauguration. It was fun to see the info@literacyforall.org
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